David Gold has claimed it was a Government mistake which has led the the outrageously spiralling costs that have engulfed the London Stadium since the start of this season.

It has cost the taxpayer- minus £15m the Hammers put in - £323m to convert the Olympic Stadium into a home for football due in large part to problems regarding the retractable seating that isn't exactly retractable.

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Gold challenged a Hammers supporter who said the Etihad - home of Manchester City - was not state owned like the London Stadium. The Etihad is in fact owned by Manchester City Council after the successful Commonwealth Games held in the city in 2002.

Gold said: "The Etihad Stadium home of Manchester City football club is owned by Manchester City Council."

When questioned why it took so much cash to convert the Olympic Stadium to a football ground, whereas the Etihad cost only £42m, Gold snapped back again.

West Ham's London Stadium home (Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

"Because the OS [Olympic Stadium] was designed and built on the absolute premise that it would never be converted to a football stadium. Government mistake."